William Byron wins second straight crown at Daytona 500

For the second year in a row, William Byron opened the NASCAR Cup Series season with a stellar first-place finish at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday night, claiming the prized 2025 Daytona 500 checkered flag.

Byron earned his second overall Daytona 500 win and a record-breaking 10 victories at the speedway for Hendrick Motorsports, which had previously tied Petty Enterprises with nine apiece. He finished just ahead of driver Tyler Reddick and Jimmie Johnson, another two-time Daytona champion.

Despite entering the final lap of competition in ninth place, Byron quickly rose to the top after a collision knocked out several leading cars.

“Just obviously fortunate it worked out in our favor,” Byron said after the race. “Crazy? Yeah. I can’t honestly believe that but we’re here.”

Back like he never left. pic.twitter.com/ub4I144P3d

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) February 17, 2025

In December, Liberty announced that it would serve as the primary sponsor for the No. 24 Cup Series car in six races during the 2025 campaign, starting with The Clash exhibition race at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C, on Feb. 2. Other races with Liberty primary sponsorship include: Feb. 23, Atlanta Motor Speedway; March 30, Martinsville Speedway; July 27, Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Aug. 16,  Richmond Raceway; and the finale back at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 23.

Liberty has sponsored Byron since 2014.

Byron had a spectacular 2024 season that featured three race wins and 13 top-five finishes and concluded with seven consecutive top-six showings. He returned to Phoenix Raceway for his second straight Championship 4, where he placed third and repeated his third-place position in the final point standings.

Read more about Byron’s success and his time as a Liberty student at Liberty.edu/24.